Swingable redwood-bark-peeling chisel having peeled-log-contacting guide



Sept. 21, 1954 N WHITAKER 2,689,590

J. SWINGABLE REDWOOD-BARK-PEELING CHISEL HAVING FEELED-LOG-CONTACTING GUIDE Filed Sept. 27, 1952 INVENTOR.

/mw (IA Mm) Patented Sept. 21, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT SWINGABLE REDWOOD-BARK-PEELING CHISEL HAVING PEELED-LOG-CON- TACTIN G GUIDE OFFICE My present invention relates to redwood bark peelers and more particularly to improved tools for removing bark from logs.

In the processing of redwood logs into lumber 2 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the position taken by these tools when in operation on a log which is indicated in dot-and-dash lines. For the purpose of conserving space the four it is necessary to remove the bark before sawtypes of tools are shown in this figure but in ing into lumber sizes. This is because redwood actual practice all of the tools may be of one logs often are of great diameter having bark type, and twelve inches or more in thickness and due to Fig. 8 is a front elevation of Fig. 7, but shows the peculiar composition of the bark it acts like only the tool illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. an abrasive on the saws; therefore, the pre- 10 In all redwood logs of large diameters the liminary step of first peeling the log is necessary. periphery of the wood varies in contour result- Peeling of redwood logs is an arduous and ing in vertical flutes as indicated at in on the expensive operation because of the hand labor surface of the log ll of Fig. 2. Also cracks l2 involved; therefore, I have designed special tools may be found at intervals. These flutes, as infor performing this step which I have set forth l5 dicated at It, vary in size and depth both transsomewhat in diagrammatical form in the folversally and longitudinally and are not conlowing description. tinuous throughout the length of the tree.

The principal object of my invention is to As previously stated my invention in the presproduce improved tools for peeling redwood logs. t pp c s d rected to the tool and not Another object is to produce a bark peeling the means for rotating the log therefore, I have tool which may be positioned above a log which indicated diagramm t l y a c e l3 having is rotated against the tool, a plurality of these o l I4 p f ly of rr a d urfac on tools being freely pivoted along the length of Whieh the l I I s otated. th log, Mounted on any convenient part of a super- Another object attained in the use f s h structure, not shown, is a longitudinal shaft i5 t ol is a guide embe whi h bear on th bar on which the tools are swingable. This shaft i5 surface of the log following the lifting of the should be vertically adjustable so that i m y bark by an accompanying chisel-like plow porbe adjusted to suit the diameter Of the log about tion which raises the bark and lifts it upwardto be p The pu pose of this adjustability 1 d away f th t l, is for the purpose of permitting the peeling tools A still further object is a guide member which to s m t pr p r angle with resp ct to the is shaped like a clam shell and pivoted at its Surface the ends on the tool structure permitting it to tilt AS Previously Stated gs. 1 and 2 Show the when encountering flute-like portions of the log preferred yp of tool in which I provide an surface. elongate and flat arm portion 20, the back end Other objects and novel features presented in of which is PrOVided with J l po on 2! my invention will b more apparent as t swingable on the shaft 15. The front end of scription of the device and its operation this tool is recessed at 2 p di a J w-like progresses, opening having pin bosses 23 located on the un- In the drawings illustrating i m or l der side and adapted to receive pins 24 threaded diagrammatic form; into a clam shell-shaped guide member 25. On Fig. 1 is a fragmental top plan view of th one side of the tool the jaw portion extends out preferred form of th 1; in a leading position beyond the guide member Fig. 2 is a fragmental front elevation of Fig. 1; 25 and is Provided With a el-l ke edge 25, Fig. 3 is a fragmental top plan view of a modithe face of which curves d y t 1 p ofled form of tool; viding a deflecting surface against which the Fig. 4 is a fragmental front elevation of Fig, 3; raised bark 28 is deflected away from the tool Fig. 5 is a fragmental front elevation of a tool when in the Process of P l g the bark. similar to that shown in Fig. 2 in which a roll The clam shell member 25 is a p on the member is substituted for the clam-shell shaped front Side, as indicated at 29, and blunt on the guide member; back side, as indicated at 30, the peeled-log-con- Fig. 6 is a fragmental front elevation of a tool tacliing Surface of the member being p d 111 similar to that shown in Fig. 3 but using a unither from a longitudinal axis of the arm 20 versal ball guide member instead of the fixed than the chisel edge 26. clam-shell like member of Figs. 3 and 4; In operation, the sharp edge 28 of the chisel- 3 like portion of the tool is kept in a desired position with respect to the wood surface of the log by the member 25 following the contour of the log and bridging cracks, such as I2, the tool rising and dropping on the shaft I as the log is rotated.

It should be kept in mind that while this tool is mainly provided to lift and remove the bark on the log it is immaterial whether or not here or there the surface of the wood gets shaved a bit. The wood surface of these redwood logs is very soft and fibrous and such extreme surface areas are waste in the form of slabs and ed incs.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a modified form in which the arm portion I2ll is narrow and has a chisel portion I26 and a bark deflecting face I21 similar to corresponding portions in Fig 1 and 2. The clam shell portion I25 is similar to 25 in Figs. 1 and 2 but is fixed to the under side of portion I20. The operation is similar to the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception of the fixed nature of the member I25.

In Fig. 5 the arm portion 220 is wide, as in Fig. 1, the chisel edge 225, face 221, and jaw recess 222 being similar to corresponding portions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the only real difference being in the substitution of the roll 225 for the clam shell member 25. The operation is similar.

In Fig. 6 the arm portion 320 is similar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, being of the narrow type. The chisel edge 328 and face 321 are similar to corresponding portions of Figs. 1 and 2. In this type a universal ball 32 is rotatably located in a housing 33 which is fixed to the under side of member 820. The operation is similar to the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In operation, in any one of the four types shown, the tools are swivelled at H, I2l, 22I, or 32!, depending on the type used, on the normally fixed rod I5, the chisel ends of the tools being in contact with the bark 28 of the log I I. The log II is rotated against the tools, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8. Each tool operates independently of the other, rising and falling as the contour of the log presents itself under the guide member of the tool until a complete revolution of the log has been made.

While I have shown my invention somewhat in diagrammatic form it is to be understood that I may vary the shape and proportion of the various portions within wide latitude and sub- 4 stitute equivalent structure well within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. An improved tool for peeling redwood logs comprising an elongate arm freely swiveled at one end on an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of said arm, said arm and said transverse axis being located above a log rotatable on its longitudinal axis, said transverse axis lying substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said leg, the free end of said elongate arm forming a bark removing plow having a concave front face and having a chisel edge spaced from a prolongation of the longitudinal axis of said arm, and engaging under the bark of said 10:. and a guide member mounted on said arm and located in following relation to said chisel edge, said guide member having a logcontacting surface which rides on the peeled surface of said leg, and said log-contacting surface being spaced further from said prolongation of the longitudinal axis of said arm than said chisel edge.

2. An improved tool for peeling redwood logs,

as set forth in claim 1, in which said guide member comprises a olam-shell-shaped member pivoted at its ends in a recess in the free end of said elongate arm.

3. An improved tool for peeling redwood logs, as set forth in claim 1, in which the guide member comprises a clam-shell-shaped member fixed to the underside of said elongate-arm.

4. An improved tool for peeling redwood logs. as set forth in claim 1, in which the guide member comprises a roll pivoted at each end in a recess formed in the free end of said elongatearm and adjacent one side of said chisel edge.

5. An improved tool for peeling redwood logs, as set forth in claim 1, in which the guide member comprises a ball socket fixed to the under side of said elongate-arm, and a ball universal- 1y movable in said socket, and riding on the peeled surface of said log.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 988,860 Carter Apr, 4, 1911 2,637,357 Johnson et al. May 5. 1953 2,660,207 Phillips Nov. 24, 1953 

